Thank you for watching! I hope this is helpful, or at least provides some ideas. The majority of these were thought up while looking at my own gear lists, thinking of my past experiences, and what has worked. As always, carry what you want! It is your trip to do as you please and what you enjoy.
@@LRChronic "Trail Life: Ray Jardine's Lightweight Backpacking" formerly known as 'Beyond Backpacking' which is virtually the same book just an older version in black and white. It was first published as 'the pct hikers handbook' I believe. None of these are easy to find but it is without a doubt the greatest resource I have ever seen when it comes to backpacking skills and is worth looking for.
Jupiter, one hard part about what clothes to bring is the unexpected extreme bouts of weather that occur now due to climate change. It's real. Example: I live close to and hike and ride (horses, donkeys) in the Sierras. The weather used to be somewhat predictable in summer - you just expect afternoon thunderstorms that end fairly quickly. One day ride on my horse in later July, by 10 a.m. the thunderheads were already building (odd) fast, but the storms didn't end until the next day! That is not typical and was not predicted. The temp went down to 40 degrees mid day rapidly, w wind and thunderstorms raging, creeks became raging muddy obstacles between me and my warm truck. Fortunately I packed JUST enough clothes on my horse to survive this assuming I got back to the truck within a couple hours. If I had been headed out to camp, and I went by the typical weather for the area as well as the forecast, I would've been in trouble. Maybe. I don't know, I suppose I could've thrown up my tent and gotten in my sleeping bag and waited it out for 36 or 48 hours. But I'm more inclined to prepare for worse case scenario but maybe my problem is I need to learn exactly how much clothes will keep me warm when having to sleep out w my newest gear. Idk. I just feel I can't trust weather to be "normal" or predictable at all anymore.
@@BurroGirl you are very right! I'm places where you can bring less with minimal risk that's great, but if the risk is too high I am all for being safe. Just a matter of assessing the probability in regards to each trip and location. I guess that's why I always speak so much about gathering experience near home, and planning heavily for the trip to come. It's nice to learn on the fly sometimes, but in some cases as you mention can be dangerous to do so.
My tip would be get in shape. It's miraculous how much getting a little stronger and healthier will make you feel on trail, no matter your pack weight.
Agreed, i lost 60 lbs iver the last three yeara and i put each of them back into my pack and gear. Never noticed the difference, and i travel and hike in total confort with my 80lb pack. Its not about the burden, its about your capacity to sboulder it.
I almost wet my pants, but this comment brings up an interesting point. If two people hike together they can share quite a few items of gear lightening both their loads.
I'm going with someone, and we're sharing a tent, a stove and pot, first aid, a knife, bear bag, and navigation (maps cut up by region along with disassembled guidebook).
Little late ot the party but I would like to add to the sleep clothes thing you mentioned. I love this peice of advice you gave, but depending on where you're hiking and for how long, having a wet kit and a dry kit will save you a lot of turmoil. Wear your wet kit during the day, and your dry kit when you sleep to allow your skin time to dry and heal, this will help mitigate things like chaffing, trench foot, sweat rash, and subsequent infections from these injuries. Adding this to your evening routine is also a great way to check for leeches and ticks. Remember, your skin is the largest organ of your body and is your first line of defense against infection, look after it and it'll look after you.
@@davidward4827 You flatter me good sir. But no I'm a student nurse that enjoys the outdoors and hyper-focuses way to much on learning about these kinds of things.
In my area, Tasmania, Australia the brutal environment as far a cold temps and rain you can save weight using 75% of what this vid spoke about, but no way could you SAFELY use light weight wet weather gear, shelter of footwear,our bush just destroys it, if you can get the total weight down to around 12-15kg you are going well for a 7 day walk. Seriously I have lost count the amount of times I been involved in rescues involving overseas traveler who have said I have done this or that walk in USA or Europe and did it carrying 7kg.
My tip is for women and researching the most suitable backpack design. In general men can carry more weight on their shoulders thus making it easier to go without a hip belt. Women tend to be built to carry more weight on our hips. I hiked half of the pct last summer having fun designing the perfect pack for women and talked with so many women out there who found these backpacks with skinny shoulder straps and minimized hip belts super uncomfortable. We anatomically have a dip (suprascapular notch variation ) in our shoulders where men do not so thinner straps tend to hurt our shoulders. I switched to a Gossamer Gear g420 (for example) and the carrying comfort was night and day and it's still ultralight. They have a very decent hip belt with great pockets (so no need for a fanny pack) and wide shoulder straps .... I am an older woman so I could go 20 miles per day whereas my young friends can go upwards to 30 or more..... This means carrying more food and water for longer than faster hikers. So know that older ladies out there are particularly badass. :D 👊 The atom pack has some good features, the lightest six moons design packs (altho heavier) even have a vest option for shoulders straps if not too busty. ... . There's room for the ultimate ultralight womens pack to be designed. The Osprey makes a 'womens' pack -- lumina but somehow it fit weird on me when I tried it.
I was wanting the g4-20 but got so bent out of shape when their order thing online rejected my card and my PayPal because I was having it delivered to an address different..I understand the issue but after the emails I thought they could solve it.. tarptent did on my stratosphere li...so I have a used arc haul that will go with me
I think girls are underestimated... Plenty of girls hike the AT, and go well over 20km every day. 5 days in a row, before they take a single day break..! I once hiked 23km with a 15kg backpack (Osprey Rook 65 - which is very comfortable with heavier loads), and i was very happy i got a ride back home the next day, because my shoulders and hips were so sore that i could barely walk for several days 😅
I appreciate you bringing this up! Most male ultralight youtubers fail to mention this important difference in center of gravity between sexes. (Though I still luv ya, Jupiter! :))
Additional tip for repair tape on trecking poles: Roll it round your pole at the depth your waterproof footwear gives out. That way. when fording water, you'll know if it's too deep or not. This has saved me wet feet countless times.
I think bear spray or a pistol, or a hatchet if in bear country. A black bear charged me and the only th8nk that sopped it was me banging my sheathed hatchet on a tree stump as hard as I could. I tried to be big, wave my arms, yell, stomp and spit. The hatchet shook the stump just enough for it to run away. Three other people 10-20 feet from me never even saw the bear coming. It stopped walking about 30 feet from me. That when it ran towards me. It never stopped and stared.
It may have been bluffing I’ve seen black bears on videos charge people and back off before they get here. They test you. They also jumó up a tree and will star at you in between charges. I have no clue about giant bears is like I’ve see. Them and they are like twice as big. Maybe way more. A moose is the biggest animal I’ve seen.
Why don't your shoes have Goretex lining? Your feet are the most used body part on a trek and wet feet can be a huge issue especially with blisters etc. Healthy happy feet is key.
Great video. I’m older and an ex-long range recon scout from military. I’m learning this ultra-lightweight stuff because our packs were typically in excess of 100 pounds. Just one small thing to add: unless you can engage your core muscles at will, don’t cut off your waist belt. Use the belt to press your core (stomach) muscles against to prevent lower back injury.
As someone with lower back issues, I agree fully. When packed properly and straps adjusted, most of the weight should be riding on your hips. When I've got my backpack on, it feels like I've got a back brace on and is more comfortable than most people can imagine.
The first that I heard of this was from GruntProof. He said to use the hip belt like a weight lifters belt across the belly button in order to support the spine, at least when carrying heavy loads.
my tip: if you add 1-2lbs of things that help you have a lot more fun, your winning. I use ultra-lite methodologies to make up for the weight of stuff I like to have. As a CPAP user, learning ultra-lite lessons is critical.
I have an oral appliance and have never able to get it to do the job. My go to is now bullet proof: A Transcend Mini with 3 P8 batteries and solar charging panel. Not cheap but I get a total of 6 nights out of the batteries and am able to charge on the go by hanging the solar panel off the top of my pack. Of course each battery is 1 lb. And the CPAP is 1 lb. And the hose and mask add almost another lb. , but I can go.
Good video Man! I'm a hiker in Australia, and there isn't a massive amount of videos about conditions there, mostly north America, however your tips are applicable to most hikers here. If you do end up doing some international hikes here, I can recommend the Australian Alps Walking Track as the most picturesque, and probably the most similar to North American conditions. Other great, long distance hikes are the bicentennial national trail, and Heysen trail among others. For any Aussie hikers seeing this video and wondering what applies here, here's a few tips in my experience: 1. For outback hikes, a tarp will almost always do better than a tent. Optimal ventilation, and very very unlikely to encounter bad weather. On the east coast, a lightweight tent is probably a safer bet. 2. Never ditch snake/spiderbite treatment. Go hellbent for leather cutting down ibuprofen etc., but never ever get rid of a proper compression bandage. There are highly venomous snakes and/or spiders in every single part of Australia. 3. Water is easier to find on the east coast than you think. I've never done an east coast hike where I've carried more than 2-3L at a time. 4. Odor proof/animal proof food protection is unessacary. Possums won't get food if you keep it in your tent, and only possums at major campgrounds are game enough to try take it from right next to you if using a tarp. The only possible exception to this is where dingos have become accustomed to humans like on Fraser Island. For most places though, a shopping bag is absolutely fine. 5. Sun protection is more important than close to anywhere else in the world. Long sleeve shirts and broad brimmed hats always, and just enough sunscreen for your face and legs. 6. March flies don't give a rats arse about deet. Leave the deet at home and bring a headnet and long sleeve shirt instead.
March flies, whatever they are, on top of everything else makes it sound like hell on Earth. Tell me again why Australia has such a strong anti immigration policy.
@@billgreen576 tell me how on earth Australian can simultaneously have anti immigration policies and have one of the highest non native born percentages of their populations on earth? As for the wildlife, March flies are hell but I miner annoyance. Again, if one actually takes a look at statistic and facts one will find that indigenous Australian animals cases minuscule fatalities when compared to all other causes of deaths. At the bottom of the list of death are those caused by animal life of all types and yet again, indigenous wildlife is at the bottom of the list. I haven’t looked recently, but horses typically top the list of deaths and serious injuries in this sector in developed countries. Personally, I am Australian and at 54 have known or known of hundreds of people that have died. Excluding cars, I have known at least a dozen people killed by them, being biggest non natural killer, I know one woman killed by a cow, several bitten by snakes, (they were farmers or working in the bush), none of them died. An uncle of mine was bitten several times, he was probably trying to kill the potentially deadly snakes. He didn’t bother going to hospital, just lay down and rested. Spider bites are not uncommon. I don’t know of a single adverse outcome. Anyway. Go look at the stats. You will find dying of thirst and drowning , introduced animals, cattle horses and dogs, outweigh deaths by indigenous wildlife by at least several hundred to one. There’s just one massive exception to the, little danger rule. If you swim where there are crocodiles you are unlikely to live to talk about it. So guess what. Only tourist, who needless to say never return home, swim with crocs.
I'd agree with most of this but a few of the places I've hiked and camped in Queensland have had warnings about wild boar and rats coming after your food and destroying tents to do so. Probably a good idea idea to check first.
@@ktm9292 yer definitely a potential problem. Introduced animals yet again, but the pigs are extremely dangerous if cornered. Which is the overarching truth with almost all wild animal encounters in Australia. If you don’t bother them they don’t bother you. Surprising a venomous snake is the biggest risk. They understandably lash out when they think that they are being attacked. Growing up in the bush it’s second nature to never put any part of your body anywhere you can not see clearly. You don’t have a consciously thing about it so it’s not taxing. The only time I can close to being bitten was as a 12 year old. I was running very quickly across a paddock of very short grass in summer. I didn’t slow down for the fence, with long grass growing up between the wire. I stumbled upon the biggest king brown snake you can imagine. It reared up to my height, but didn’t strike. If it had I would probably have died. If I had been traveling at walking pace the snake would have moved out of my way and I would never have known it was there.
You already touched on it a bit when talking about drying out gear, but I'll add a little to it for people looking to hike in wetter, more rainy conditions. It won't show on your scale, but carrying gear or clothes that can't or won't absorb as much water as other items can save you a lot of weight while actually on trail. Dyneema is an obvious example of fabric that can't absorb water, i.e. weight. Another good idea could be to recoat waterproof gear (that will eventually soak through) before a long wet trail. A soaking wet backpack on long rainy days can be a real bummer. Thanks for the great tips!
Jupiter my addition is meditation before I go. I think through the emotions I may experience on my solo hike such as self doubt and loneliness. This strengthens my resolve when I walk. Secondly I adopt a One Meal a Day fasting regime for 3 months before I walk focused on low carb which generates ketone which in turn enables me burn my own fat as food. This also gives enhanced energy similar to what our Hunter Gather ancestors would have experienced. This cuts down on the food I need to carry as I can easily go 24 hours without food. I read Ray Jardins book when it was first published this set me on superlite walking. Jardine, you are a modern Ray Jardine and thank you so much for your informative clips. I am still walking long distances in my early 70s and I intend doing this in my nineties by clean living and getting my kit as light as possible.
I have travelled all over the world and trekked in many mountain and wilderness areas. One of the best rules I learned was to only have two sets of clothes:one wet set for use during the day and one dry set for night use. On a typical three week trek I'll take at least one rest day to wash and dry clothes, write up journals, read etc. Same as when I served in the army, where in the field we only had one spare set of clothing.
This is a super made video... I've been researching only a couple of Thru Hikers who touch in the area of Prepper, survival bugging out. We've been having more SHTF events happen , in the country , from Wild Fires, Droughts, Power Outages, Heat Waves, Floods, Snow Storms, Ice Storms, Tornadoes etc... People are bugging out from homes (fires, looters, flooding) , vehicle accidents & long traffic jams, and flooded out communities with longer poweroutages..., more often than ever , in the past 8 yrs .. Alot of people don't have any to no skills; on bugging out, and the gear needed to be successful on a bug out escape route....ThruHikers have a ton of experience on the obstacles they face, whether it be body conditioning, weather readiness, and tried and true equipment... I beleive that the combination of Survival skills, Bug out prepping , and Thru hiking with a touch of preparedness on homelessness mindset...is the perfect recipe for survival... Thank you for your great organized visual video presentation...super helpful ...
Great stuff. Lots of useful tips which has helped me look at my kit a bit closer than usual. For me the lighter my load the more I can enjoy my hiking. The Highlands of Scotland are boggy, wet and very cold. A sunnyday can change in an instant becoming a rain fest with strong gusts. This weather can push one into taking a heavy pack with lots of " WHAT IF " extra gear. I'm 54. My pack weighs in at 11kg for a 5 day fully self sufficient hike. I got the low weight mainly by buying the lightweight kit. Very expensive. About £2000. Not being a wealthy person that hurt a little. The benefits though outway the prices. I can enjoy my extreme hiking. My pack never bothers me. My hike doesn't become a march of pain or a challe ge so great I can hardly get up the next day. May I offer one great tip too. No matter what are fitness level may be training, building up stamina and eating healthy foods prior to hitting the trails makes for a lighter experience in so many ways. 😀 Mind and body. Great video.cheers mate. Oxford 🇬🇧
Save your spent chapstick tubes, they’re reusable. If you’re someone like me who uses foot balm (e.g., Joshua Tree, Bonnie’s Balms), you can melt a small portion in a double boiler and fill an old chapstick tube. Leave the large jar at home. Works great.
Hands down one of the best videos out there as far as how much is packed in there! My tip would be to echo on considering leaving things behind. I walked the Camino de Santiago in 2019, and prepped for months ahead of time by walking similar paths in similar conditions. My base weight went from around 18 pounds to around 11 when I started the hike. I had another planned for 2020 until Covid changed those plans. I had gotten my base weight down to about 6 for that one. Now I have a base weight a little over 4 pounds to accomplish the same things on the same trails! If I decided to safe money and stealth camp, I could still do it at around 6 pounds, which is amazing! Thanks to you and the books you mentioned, and doing a lot of prep work and trying things out, I have a base weight at a quarter of what I started out with (or even 1/5!). Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us!
Tim, I would love to see your gear list. Walked 8 caminos and have my base down to 9.5 lbs without the high tech stuff, but always looking to cut it down more
By base weight, you mean walking the camino carrying only 6-9 lbs? Or base is the must have stuff and added on are extras, but stillcould do the hike following all the tips from experts and books.
(As someone that hiked pre-cell) Additional things I use my phone for: compass, flashlight, a signal mirror, entertainment, calculator, weather report, a level, ruler, magnifier, mirror, heart monitor, distance tracker, knot tying guide, altimeter, I use uber to day hike a linier trail (I live near the AT), store / eats finder, I stash money etc. between the cover and phone, even squashed a few bugs with it, and I even used it a phone once...
Thanks for the video! I was already doing OK, but after recently purchasing Durston's Kakwa40 pack and X-Mid1 tent (I am not ready to sleep under a tarp when every snake we have here is deadly), I have been inspired to continue to cut down on weight and volume further. I have always packed each day's rations together. Each ziplock bag contains my main meal for the evening (home dehydrated), my lunch (crackers and peanut butter or dehydrated hummus, or tuna pouch), plus the next day's breakfast of muesli, dried fruit, and powdered coconut milk (I add water in the morning), snacks, plus the all important coffee bag. I write the weight on each bag, then eat from the heaviest to the lightest. I alternate the snacks - e.g. an extra treat for day 3 - so that I have something special to look forward to. The ziplock bags then become my waste bags, and are shoved to the bottom of my pack.
@@happydogg312 So comfortable that I now use it as a day pack - because of the extra pockets and the comfy hip belt. I have also managed to use it for a 3 night walk.
Great video! The only thing I would say is that for some of us, the challenge of going as light as possible IS the goal. I personally love the mental puzzle of figuring out how to keep things light, functional/durable, and cheap. And then the adventure of toughing it out on the trail (safely of course). Again, to each their own for sure, but there are those who intentionally deprive themselves of “comfort” to increase our capacity for being able to be comfortable in a wider range of environments i.e. we can adapt and learn to do more with less. Anyway, super solid tips!
So true. I knew a couple of fanatic bikers who incessantly discussed how to lose 100, 50, 10 grams from their bicycles (at significant cost) while being satisfied with carrying 10-20 pounds of extra fat. (I sincerely confess from experience it is easier to spend money on stuff than to lose weight.)
This. People recommend lightweight gear to me and say "I can belive how you can be arsed carrying such heavy pack and gear..." like bro... I'm 35 kilos overweight I need the exercise and couldn't care less if my tent is 300 grams heavier or not 😄
Good stuff as usual. I've replaced my travel size toothpaste with the tablets. Lighter, easier to plan how much to bring, less mess and can brush on the move easily. Works for me so far. Thanks for sharing the wisdom!
Have never seen anyone use it in the hiking community before, so glad I got to know the tautline hitch knot, it made life so much easier while packrafting, but have also used it to save some weight on my tent :)
i use a lot of these methods. what i do differently is i ALWAYS have dedicated sleep clothes. when it's cooler and your in the rain it's nice to have something dry to sleep in. also it's nice to put clean clothes on after washing up. i use the same sleep pad UNDER my inflatable pad. i could never sleep on just the 1/8" pad, it does double as my sit pad. i use a torso length pad only in warmer weather. when it's cooler the full length pad keeps my feet and calves much warmer. ALWAYS have a hot meal at the end of the day and hot coffee in the morning, tried cold soaking more than a couple of times and it don't work for me.
I use a piece of foam underlayment that goes under laminate flooring as a thin pad under my sleeping pad. It’s about 1/8” thick. I picked it up as scrap. I changed to a pyramid tarp from Luxe - Minipeak. Bought it used on eBay. Floorless with a thin tarp or plastic paint drop cloth. A wool balaclava and base layers for sleeping with sleep socks.
I'll never forget my first hiking trip to the Grand Canyon in 2010. I had an entire camping store in and hanging from my backpack (hey, I'm a city boy from Detroit). I'll never forget the guy on the shuttle from Flagstaff who only had a half pad and a small tarp that he says he just rolls up in under the rocks. His bag weighed nothing and was only half full. He inspired me, especially after I had to hike out of the canyon carrying 80 lbs up the Kaibab trail. I'm happy to say, I keep it under 15 to 30 lbs now depending on how far I'm going.
It's a process. I did the same mistake during a trip to Guatemala. I planned to climb some vulcano and I carried a massive amount of clothes, ended up having a 21 Kg backpack! I soon realised the mistake I made. Immediately after the trip I started to declutter and I got into minimalism. In 2020/2021 I lived in two different countries for 5 months in total. I managed with a single 40 liters bag, carrying around 10 km, including the laptop. I realised I can live everywhere in the world with just the content of a 40 liters dufflepack. I use a layered system, and all my jackets are packable and weight nothing. I am slowly selling all my possessions, and I feel better every time an item is gone.
When I started hiking, all I had was an army rucksack and I actually carried cans, LOL. That was the 90's though. Oddly it feels my pack has gotten heavier despite getting lighter gear and removing a lot of stuff....not sure why. I think it's cos as stuff goes wrong on trips, I feel the need to carry stuff Like I never carried any water filtration til one very bad trip.
Hey Jupiter! What an epic video! All the amazing info aside, it was so beautifully edited! I really wish this video could be pinned to the top of RU-vid. There is a lot of great info for nearly all backpackers to digest, so I really hope they try a few of the items. Huge shout out to the mighty taut line hitch!!! Each time one of the line locks breaks on my tent I tie one up and we are as good as new! Open thing I started doing a few years ago is use an emergency blanket as my foot print. I really like the multipurpose nature of it. 🙏 Thanks for bringing us along today. I hope tomorrow’s miles are kind. Keep truckin’ and be well. -Grateful
I have not had a line loc break before so that is interesting to hear! I am glad you enjoyed the vid. Some people have zero desire to lighten their pack and that's great too! Whatever makes folks happy. Still it has been something I have greatly enjoyed tinkering with for many years now and am glad I can show a bunch of ideas all in one big video. I must ask as well, how does the emergency blanket fair when it comes to durability?
@@JupiterHikes I have had the same $2 Walmart emergency blanket since 2018, and as long as you address any punctures with a small piece of tape it’s totally fine. It’s a little noisy by itself, but it’s way less noisy than the thermarest pads or nylofume pack liner. I do fold it in half so it’s just under my sleeping area so it’s two layers thick. It might be all mental but I do feel like I sleep warmer with it than without it. I don’t know how well it would do under a tarp with nothing on top of it, but under a tent it works. I figure if it can make in NE and the whites and the Cimarron Range in NM, it’s good enough for most places. Thanks again for this video. Such a good resource!
@@JupiterHikes oh and the line locks aren’t like the zpack ones. They are the small “grip” ones from big Agnes. I would say the strip out, not snap, but as soon as they don’t hold I tie in the taut line. I did had a few questions: do you consider your yo-yo a luxury? Have you gone as far as taking a lighter one even if it’s not as fun? Like imperial vs butterfly, solid axle vs spool/bearing? And do you carry an extra string in your emergency kit? Be well my friend 🙏
There are more durable MIL thickness mylar emergency blankets .. super cheap ones wouldn't work here .. thicker (more expensive) ones are as durable as polycro .. basically polycro with a mylar reflective coating
@@paganed mine isn’t that thin. I would say it’s between thin and thick window film. Maybe that’s why it’s worked so well so long? I should buy a new from Walmart and see if the current ones are the same thickness. Be well 🙏
I have not used toothpaste at home for years. My Dad never had a cavity in 75 years using tooth powder. I buy a commercial one at Whole Foods but it’s mostly bicarbonate of soda-Arm and Hammer. The tip is that I use a sparing amount of powder each use and it’s powder so compared to paste it’s ultra light. I’d just take some powder and put it in an extremely light little container or even better just one of the tiny plastic bags you demoed. It’s also less messy. Thanks for this very good summary.
Yes tooth powder is absolutely enough for your teeth. And it is also highly suggested for uses like cleaning your pot or extremely dirty equipment or your hands (e.g. if you come in the woods in contact with any resin or so).
Nice work Jupiter! I use my mosquito head net with a drawstring as my ditty bag (as you Americans call it) because it is a bag made of holes it doesn't trap air and it is a large enough bag that individual items can settle into the nooks and crannies inside my pack to save space whilst still being in the one bag that I can pull out in a moments notice
This would never work for me... when you need your head net, it needs to be in a pocket, not buried and full of small stuff. All those things are now scattered and might as well be homeless from the beginning. I use a small freezer bag as a ditty bag, so I can pull it out in any weather and not soak the contents.
2nd tip - When I suddenly got my period out of schedule while backpacking (which apparently frequently happens especially when mountaineering w large shift in altitudes), I asked any women I came across for tampons. One mentioned to use a rag (since that's of course an item I backpack with), and her partner exclaimed, "Isn't that why it's called "on the rag?" And that rag saved me for those days. Washed at any clean steam crossing.
This was great. And nothing has done more to reduce my pack weight than WEIGH EVERYTHING and Lighterpack. Seeing everything and its weight laid out has been a game changer.
Great video. I've ditched bringing toothpaste tubes and use "unpaste tooth tabs" instead. Comes in plastic free packaging, saves weight and you know exactly how many tabs you have for a trip.
Life changing video for me this, thank you so much sir ! I think hiking within yourself, at a steady pace where your heart rate is not too high is critical. You will eat less food, drink less water and sweat less. Its also better on your joints and muscles. Its just better for you to hike at your own pace. This is why hiking alone is truly better for you.
Fantastic tips for a newbie, thank you so much. Ive gone from my first pack 18kg that nearly killed me to 7.5kg. At 5ft and slim, a lighter pack is critical for enjoyment. Thank you very much, very hekpful tips ❤
I like the tip on where to wrap duct tape. Ill be using that one on my trip this spring. One thing I bring in a repair kit is 2 extra long zip ties. They are extremely lite and do a better job than tape in a variety of repairs.
Thanks for the tips & for provoking so many great responses! My tip is to use alcohol stoves instead of gas. It is less waste (just think of all those canisters!), so much lighter, will work in cold temperatures & is more efficient & takes up less bulk in your pack. I only need 15ml to boil water, so I only carry what I need. My container of choice is a repurposed Listerine bottle (250ml).
as a fan of the cold and wet experience, ive found a lot of these to be true but generally i find that weight can absolutely add convenience and safety. going outside is a journey and chasing a number instead of its experience is pretty silly in my opinion, so i make a distinction between minimalism vs ultralight. you definitely need a bit of both to get into really low numbers but i favor heavier gear but less of it. for instance a hot water bottle that a nalgene can produce can really make the difference on an evening thats cooler than expected. maybe its splitting the issue a bit too much but ive got quite a few friends with bags heavier than mine for a given trip with gear that on average weighs half as much. this video is a pretty balanced approach and definitely for people who are information seeking to get their gears turning. keep on inspiring and cant wait to see a video on some gear youve made.
I fully agree convenience and safety. I guess in many ways some things do ask the user to have the experience to go without the convenience, or a certain skill to replace an otherwise safer item. It's definitely a trade. Many will find that the convenience and safety wins out, but it's still fun to try other options as occasionally one of them will stick! I do agree with you though and find myself often carrying heavier items because it makes my life better. That's the journey with gear I guess
Create your process, improve your process. Bring all you need to get to the next town, carry all you bring. I read the book 'Shibumi' by Trevanian. He mentions Shibumi as meaning "effortless perfection". We can never reach Shibumi, but we must forever strive for it.
Great tips. In Canada you need more clothes, however having a thick layer will either keep you warm or keep you wet with sweat. Better to have several thin layers so you are adjusting by small steps.
Agree with a lot of this… but have to say a good lightweight and reliable knife cannot be overlooked! It is very versatile and should not be minimized as he clearly said it did.
Great video. Applying even just a few ultralight ideas to regular backpacking can save a lot of grief. It can also be applied to cycle touring, where you don't have the weight on your back as a reminder that you overpacked. Giving everything a long look and demanding it justify itself is important, even if it's just to make more room for your camera gear. For cutting straps off my pack, I fill it up with as much stuff as possible and then cut off the excess straps, making sure to still give an inch of extra strap. That and cutting out the liner between the top and bottom adds up pretty quick. I would never cut off a hip belt though. In the time leading up to a big hike, squeeze tubes of sunscreen and toothpaste that are only partially full get set aside for the hike, when they're down to what I'll need. I measure out my food I'll eat, including coffee, but always include one extra meal just in case something happens. Instead of a tiny Bic lighter, I carry a tiny lightweight jet lighter, because it's less effected by wind. Knives like the Benchmade Bugout (1.85oz) or Opinel Traditional #8 (1.59oz) give you a dependable blade that weighs next to nothing. If you need a fixed blade, there are some good smaller choices, like the White River M1 Pro Backpacker (3.2oz), Grohmann No.1 (3.4oz), or the Morakniv Eldris (2.8oz w/ ferro rod).
So many great tips! Biggest key I think is definitely knowing the environment, terrain, climate and then of course your objectives. E.g. those intending to go fishing will take some fishing gear. Those into photography will take filters, lenses, batteries/chargers, tripod, etc. Obviously shaving weight with many of those other tips will make it easier to carry those extra little luxuries when desired. A long distance thru-hike on the Florida trail vs a week long off-trail leisure trip to some remote alpine lakes will dictate vast differences in appropriate gear and weight. I will add regarding toothpaste, even better than a small travel tube is getting the dry toothpaste tablets available now. Just pack as many as needed and you only have to pack out the small Ziploc pillbag you may use to store them in.
Thanks, you've given me some great ideas to consider. I did 1426 miles on the AT back in 2018, but injured my back and had to get off. It still bothers me a bit, but nothing serious. It's just a good reminder to be careful and pay attention. Just retired, so planning on doing the AT again in 2024. I wasn't planning on changing everything, but I needed a new pack, and decided to downsize my tent as well. I did go for a wider, higher r-value sleeping pad, but I figure the better sleep will more that make up for the few extra ounces. Thanks again. I plan to keep watching, so please keep it up...
I have used turkey bags both to carry out food also great for laundry in town., and keeping gear dry. Super durable and of course they weight almost nothing.
Thanks Jupiter - this was epic, well done! And OMG, but I think I'm actually going to be able to knock a tiny bit off of your base weight!! Here's a tip I think you've missed: with your Bic mini or regular Big lighter, you should always remove the child safety mechanism. Looks like the ones you showed in this video at least still have them. The reason to remove this isn't really about the weight - it just makes it a lot easier to spark with when cold (though not at all more dangerous the rest of the time, for those of us older than 5). Also: if you ever happen to get your lighter wet and need it to light immediately, the child safety mechanism makes that impossible until the lighter has had time to dry out thoroughly. Without it, you can just blow into it really hard to clear out all the water and you're good to go. And of course, one less bit of metal is a grain or two of weight saved. Here's a YT vid that shows how to do it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FO9Fg9kwJ48.html. I hear you're hiking the PCT again this year? Hope to see you out there - I start again in early April. /Cap'n. PS oh and one more!! Instead of taking only part of your guidebook, just photo it with your phone. Photo the whole thing. Cheers!
That advice is also in the book Jupiter recommends in this video. Ultralight Backpackin' Tips (2011) by Mike Clelland. Not so much to save weight but to make it easier to light your stove with your INDEX FINGER pp. 105-106.
Yes but I always plan for the worst. Even the best planning can’t account for life. I’ll just workout and get stronger so extra weight doesn’t suck as much. Worked so far!
Tip: use a nartow( cut to your body width) piece of Reflectix... tightly rolled as a sleeping pad. Super cheap, readily replaced, moisture barrier, super lightweight, and can also line your pack, inside your pack liner, to pad your back and make your pack more comfortable next to your body. In a survival situation, can be cut up to make boot liners and prevent frostbite. Also, a small piece, 8x10, next to your chest, under your sweater, can keep your core warmer on winter nights.
I'm partway in, great vid overall, but I disagree with two things big time: 'one of everything' and 'dont pack for worst case scenarios'. Some things you are right about like one shleter, one coat, one pot. However having backups of small essentials can easily save lives: a small but great backup compass (like a Suunto clipper) is good to have an weighs less than a coin. More than one firesteel is a good idea. Even with a shelter, a small backup tarp thats just enough to save your hide is also a good idea. I would definitely take 2 lights. I only have so much experience hiking, but I have a much older friend who is a former (and highly experienced) mountain rescuer. He told me that literally 90% of cases of exposure/hyothermia he has seen are in summer! He explained that, in winter people dress for the cold and expect the worst. In summer people go out thinly dressed and unprepared. It typically happens in 3 stages: They get injured, turned around or caught out somehow and cant get home/to camp. Second it rains and they get wet and third a cold night breeze comes along and they dont have heavier clothing. They are then wet, cold and dont have the equipment for such an emergency. What my friend told me was reinforced when I heard survivalist Greg Ovens saying the same thing on youtube -most cases of hypothermia he has seen/heard of took place in warm weather. At the end of the day its up to people what they do, but I would always have a backup plan.
1. Don’t add a new bit of gear without taking something out. This will help deal with the ‘just in case’ problem. 2. The situation in Northern Europe is very different. Here, you can never have enough waterproofing and keeping stuff in separate dry bags not only helps keep your kit dry but minimises the time your rucksack is open. 3. On a related note, have a system for packing and always keep stuff in the same place. 4. Never use compression sacks as it’s like carrying a rucksack full of rugby balls. 5. A GPS is an aid to navigation not a replacement for it. Carry a paper map and compass and know how to use it. 5. Don’t carry a ‘spare’ set of clothes. Have one minging set you walk in and a separate lightweight set (like silk) to sleep in. Put the minging gear back on the next day. The exception is socks. 6. If you’re walking in wet conditions carry talc or foot powder for your feet. 7. As a luxury carry a small thermos. I use a 0.5 litre Sigg Hot and Cold and it’s excellent. I boil water last thing at night and in the morning this means I can have a hot drink first thing in the morning without leaving my maggot. Then before I set out I boil again and it means that if the weather sets in I can have a hot drink immediately after I set up camp. It sounds like a luxury but it’s a REAL morale booster.
Thanks for the tips! I do a lot of fishing. Instead of bringing the whole tackle box I some times only select 3 to 5 lures of various sizes and colors which I know will be good, and they fit in a film canister. That alone saves me perhaps 100-300 grams, depending on the tackle box!
It's not about the weight, it's about the fun. OK, I think doing 20 miles in a day is good going (I'm 58). Hike your own hike and have fun, This ultra-minimalist form of hiking will allow you to hike further in a day, but will it give you more fun? A few comforts on the trail can really help turn a slog into a good experience. Hiking is not about how fast you go, but more about how you feel in this amazing outdoor World. Take your time and look, chances are you will see something you have never seen before.
Hi there I’d just like to comment that this is your opinion. If someone wants to be ultra minimalist and count grams, that may be fun for them. There is no singular definitive way to hike. What is fun and what is worth the sacrifice, is different for each individual. If someone doesn’t agree with the idea of minimalist thinking for example cutting a tooth brush, then leave it at that! I myself love having the extra items that are labeled luxury, for example coffee mug, extra pillow, camp clothes etc. To some people it is about their weight. To each their own. 👍🏼
@@dylanagli1577 I agree totally, I'm not saying don't do this, just I don't do this and you don't have to either. Weight is important, the more you carry the less distance you will be able to walk. I prefer my comforts.
Im only 46 but after all the impact sports Ive done as a young man my body only has 1-2 speeds left whether walking or running. Five pounds either way isnt going to change how fast or far Im going in a day. It will dramaticaly change my attitude though if Im cold/wet/sleep deprived. These tips can be helpful but ultraliting is a young mans game.
Thanks for making this. I've tried a bunch of these out over the years with moderate success. I'd be interested in hearing about your mistakes with ultralight hiking, so I can learn more about what to avoid.
Thank you for the great tips! That editing must have taken forever, it was fantastic! I like to pack my own dinners into gallon sized bags and just scoop what I want from that. It is a great way to eliminate bully trash.
My old counter died so this is all with new software as well! One silly little mess up right in the middle but other than that I'm very happy! Also that is a fantastic tip! Love the less waste and lack of extra bags
awesome video, I am a part of the group who usually never comments on videos but I appreciate the simplicity and straightforwardness of this video. enough said.
My sleep system is pretty much a 80% wool blanket these days. Weight wise it's not much lighter than a quilt or sleeping bag, but volumetric-wise, it's much easier to pack and carry. It can be rolled and tucked away or strapped up top. I've also wrapped it around the inside of my pack or worn it as a cape with a blanket pin when it's chilly. Being in Australia, I find I don't need much more than this 95% of the time and if I do, I wear something warmer on top.
Great video, confirmed the experience I have gained over the years. What I found out new for me are the barefoot shoes, which are lighter and healthier. But everyone has to find out for themselves. Greetings from Switzerland.
Thanks so much for sharing so much wisdom here. I'm used to backpacking in the CO mountains, so planning a trip to the Utah desert where I'll have to carry a bunch of water is proving challenging. One brand to consider for lightening clothing and sleeping bags is the Japanese company Montbell. I've had a lot of success finding stuff there that have cut a lot of weight, and their jackets come with stuff sacks that are lighter than Ziplocs!
I just completed about 100 mile of the Long Trail and averaged about 20 or miles per day. I will return in the fall to complete. Most of the things you suggested I am already doing except the TP. No full roll for me, that’s my luxury item. I have all light weight gear, mostly Zpacks but when I see people like you on the trail I always think the same thing, what the hell do they eat. Your pack looks like a book bag. I eat a keto diet so I am all in on dense calorie rich food. I have spoken to many AT through hikers and they wonder the same thing. I generally eat everything I bring and still tend to lose weight. Not sure what I am missing. I suppose I could go the cold soaking, no coffees route but to be honest that seems miserable. I have a scale and weigh everything and don’t carry much of anything. I am well into my 60s fit and have been doing this for decades but I still can’t figure out the book bag backpack, where is your food? What are you eating? Maybe I just need to ti hike hungry. Thanks for the heads up on the Nitecore, take care. Update, before I went back to complete the Long Trail I went on LighterPack and that did help me to make some changes. I got expensive but I got my base weight down to about eight pounds and it certainly made a big difference on the rest of my hike. I traded in my sleeping bag for a quilt, my Anker power bank for a Nitecore, changed my pot to a 550 Toaks, replaced my Patagonia down for a Montbell. I basically changed out a lot of my gear saving ounces here and there. My savings were my sleeping bag to quilt, charging bank, down coat and rain gear. Thanks for your help. My wife hopes I am done purchasing gear for a while.
Mix nut butter with butter. I bring 10oz of it in a 10oz plastic Macadamia Nut container, but it has a massive amount of calories. I put it on calorie dense sesame crackers I make too. Big weight saver. I am Keto too. Also bring Trader Joes Coconut oil pkts and olive oil packets to add to meals or hot water.
My favorite discovery of the year (not only, but especial for outdoor trips)- the menstrual disc! The big advantage of a disc vs. a regular cup is that you can empty it without removing it (make sure to take it out and clean it every ~10-12 hours). It's also a lot more comfortable (and might even be more lightweight.) 😅
Question, is Pa'lante a Cuban-American brand of backpacks? That's how we Cubans (and to an extent Puerto Ricans and Dominicans) say "Onward" which in 'proper' Spanish is spelled and pronounced "Pára Alantè"
Great tips. I don't follow all of them, but I wouldn't argue with any of them. One thing - and I'm going to take flack for this - that you could also do is leave the toothpaste at home altogether. The toothpaste acts more as a rewarding flavor for brushing than serving any purpose in actually cleaning your teeth better than just a damp toothbrush. My dentist told me this, and I didn't believe him at first. But, they've actually done studies on this.
I was going to mention this, My dentist convinced me of this about 30 years ago. Have rarely used toothpaste since. He said "the point of toothpaste is to fool you into thinking you are doing better than you are and it is sweet/minty. The brushing is what it is cleaning your teeth and without paste, you will probably brush longer."
Your suggestion to use microclimates to your advantage when camping is key. I learned this during winter trips in Yellowstone. -I can't imagine being in the backcountry without a knife. -I'm gonna have two ways to make fire. -I go with a slightly larger pack because it's easier to pack. You just to need to have the discipline NOT to fill it. Also, I do longer trips where I need to carry a week's worth of food, or more, here in the Rockies.
I'm crazy when it comes to garage sale season and it's amazing what you can find at them. I picked up one thing that's in my Camelbak Mule (or is it a Mutt) that rides behind the seat of my pickup truck just in case I come across a trail I want to hike on. The neatest thing I found was a small Craftsman AM/fm radio with a flashlight as well as a plug in for a USB cable to charge things up. Oh, it's also got a small colar panel AND a hand crank for when the sun hides from you or you finally stop at night. I've got other goodies in my CamelBak and I don't think I'd ever just beebop down a multi-day trail with just that but, with the water bladder that's part of the pack and lots of small pockets, I keep it loaded with all kinds of different things to at least cover me on an over-night trip. I've got a Garmin GPS (very small) in my pack which I'm not comfortable enough to do without and rely on a cell phone for what it can do. Whether it be deciding which fork to take in a trail or a shortcut back to civilization if the need arises.. I DO have the fork kind of like what you showed but, mine has a spoon on the other end. I think you've made me think about pulling my Camelbak out and checking the inventory to see what else I need to add. Great video..
I have tried all sorts of ultralight packs, frameless, etc, over the years, and have settled on the Osprey Levity for now as a compromise. For me, the way it distributes weight, it makes my pack feel weightless. Like you said, it's about what works best. +1 on the quilt, they rock! Now, as someone who loves photography and makes it a primary point of any trip, if I could just find a way to lighten the weight of my lenses...
I use the osprey daylite bag, for a camera I use my phone lol. My trips are about 1 week long in forest, desert, or jungle. I can't do cold with my set up. A big thing I bring is an umbrella 🌂, it drastically reduces heat from the sun clothing can't do. So I sweat less and can take less water. The less water makes up for the cost in weight for the umbrella, plus umbrella is also part of my tent system to sleep, with water watch catching ability.
Here is a way to cut down on battery weight; Use lithium batteries. They weigh less than lead acid, and last a lot longer. Also, you can use a AAA battery instead of a AA with a little aluminum foil, or AAA to AA battery adapter.
Tip 100 read through the comments of this video. I honestly think you should keep this going, like make another tip video from the comments. Make your own gear is a good tip, as well as modifying gear as well. I was going through my electronics and shaved over a pound. Mainly swapping to a dummy battery and a 12v to 9v dc converter. Also was thinking of making tripod legs with either tent stakes of maybe chop sticks.
This is a really nice video, I love your philosophy, so much ultralight talk is all about gear and going as light as possible, whereas your presentation is well balanced and lots of useful suggestions. Tips I would add are are using purification tablets instead of carrying a water filter system & learning to use a tarp instead of carrying a tent. A good tarp is versatile, I often carry mine on day trips. I don't go ultralight but have been minimizing gear and weight over the years & makes camping and hiking so much more fun. Less to carry means I can move more. I like that you emphasize the approach of mindfulness and making changes over time through experience. I love those practically indestructible plastic utensils & they feel better in the mouth than titanium. I also have had well designed sporks with a cutting edge that are compact,. Store all your gear in one container so it is ready to grab and go, if you can't do that, you probably have too much.
I have never heard of or watched your channel before. I click on your link. You start with "carry what you want" and "Try these things at home before going on a long trip." I'm in. Subscribed.
I really enjoyed all these tips and tricks. You really have been inspiration to lighten my pack. I recently purchased a tarp, bivy, and 40 litter pack. I started off with the name brand packs like Osprey, Dueter, and Gregory. I have slowly been trying out different ultra set ups and I am really excited about my new kit. I feel this is really going to work for me. As for tips, I think you really did a great job covering everything, but less is really more. And you will have more comfortable experience without injury or mishap.
For trips that are closer to home or ones where you are being shuttled (like in the hundreds of miles or less, even just a few days long) people really should cache more than they do. You are often parking at one end and and getting picked up and driven back to your car. What I like to do is start at my eventual pickup point and everywhere that the trail crosses a road leave a cache of supplies. I zigzag back and forth until I get to the trailhead. Sometimes this takes all day, sometimes it's a few hours. Sometimes you will cross a road every day and can leave yourself some beers, or fresh eggs, or just carry a day or two of food at any time. I have been known to leave a power bank, or other items that get switched out (leave trash for example or half full fuel canister) then come back and pick them up on the way home. How often do I see people who are hiking 80 miles in a week carry EVERYTHING they need even though that trail crosses a highway every single day? Every single time I go out. Sure it's a little more convienient up front not having to cache supplies but you end up carrying next Tuesday's food from day one!
PILLOW HACK! If you use a fleece jacket with a front pocket (I use a Lighheartgear Hoodie) stuff the jacket inside itself inside out into its pocket for the best pillow!
Great tips. Thanks! A generous fleece balaclava can keep you much warmer than the same weight insulating your torso, arms or legs. Look at a thermal IR image of your body and the head is losing a lot of heat. A balaclava will keep you very warm when sleeping, and it can be rolled up to make a warm beanie while hiking.
I sewed my balaclava to my beanie. Now when i sleep at night the beanie does not fall off. I stuff the balaclava into the beanie when i just want the beanie. Balaclavas are easy to lose and in this mode, i have never lost one.
Hey brother I really appreciate your input on backpacking.. I've been watching all your videos and I've ultimately been cutting down on excess in doing so. You ROCK! I'm about to embark on my Appalachian trail thru hike in mid March as this will be my first venture. I just wanted to say thank you..
@@JupiterHikes also, did you take a tent setup or tarp for the AT? I have a combo of both and I like my little 2.5 lb trekking tent but I want to stay as dry as possible out there and bought a 10x10 tarp as well. But I'm thinking this could be too much. Packing my fears and my number one is staying dry and bug free..lol
Learn to sew! To start I was adding large pockets to the my back pack straps and making hip belt pockets bigger. Now I've sewn my own UL backpack and tent that are perfect for what I need.
For shorter trips: tiny containers of Soy sauce from eating Sushi are fantastic for bringing the exact amount of portions needed of soy soy or olive oil. Also repackaged dental taps instead of toothpaste. Bring the exact amount needed.
love theses tips, im going heavy with my sleeping pad and sleeping bag and going to use wool midlayer instead of down. but i would like to save weight in other places, Im going to use some of these tips. thank you
Squeeze needed toothpaste into a ziplock. Forgot my toothpaste once for a six-nighter and could only find a large tube at a convenience store on way to trailhead. So I squeezed a tablespoon or so into a small ziplock. Worked great.
I have tramped/hiked for dozens of trips with a homemade backpack using a discarded grain bag, rope and pipe insulation. I can carry 15kg for a week or more with no discomfort. It weighs 470gms and is three years old. Cost $15.
- Use a poncho instead of a rain jacket. - You dont really need a towel, no matter how light it is. - If you have a lot of trees in the area, use a hammock, so you can save weight on a sleeping pad and on a tent aswell. its really comfortable for me, i sleep very well in those. - Try mesh clothes, in some cases they are great base layers.
My tip: I never try to be "ultralight." Training, practice and fitness will allow you to carry a somewhat heavier load with ease. That said, I DO use these sorts of tips to lighten the load I want to carry. So - great video. Thanks.
Great video! Basically agree with everything. Except toilet paper is so incredibly light it’s well worth carrying in my opinion. So glad you mentioned climate, because that dramatically changes everything. Moving to southeast Alaska has completely changed my packing experience. Warmth and dry comfort are most precious in this climate, so that changes a lot.
I use toothpaste tabs instead of regular toothpaste, it might be a minor change but they’re lighter and already pre-portioned so I know exactly how much I’m bringing. Otherwise the most impactful thing for me has been thinking critically about what I need and (ruthlessly) cutting out the excess, although it’s definitely tough at first!
You know I have never actually tried the toothpaste trick! Heard about it for many years, and given all my resupply boxes you'd think I'd do that. I will have to try it sometime soon!
Good tips on going UL. I've been doing that since 2013 when my Cardiologist said , lose weight ( 20 pound carrying limit ) Was easy to do since I had been eliminating items and replacing others with lighter gear. Even as far as a 0.45 oz ( 12g ) travel tin of Vicks VapoRub , cough suppressant , topical analgesic ointment in it. It's one item with lots of different uses.
The big lesson I learnt from this video and the comments is that I shouldn’t mess about with my pack, I should lose body fat. I’m 1m 85, 100kg, walk 40 km most weekends, and don’t think I am fat, but the electronic scales tell me that I could lose body fat. Seems easier and safer than not taking a head torch.
I have watched this video multiple times & will continue to consult it as a reference in the future, not for the UL perspective per se but solely for the wealth of useful, practical advice.
My suggestion is to cook and dehydrate foods and measure them out into 1 cup ziplocks (crafting jewlery bags from the dollar store). One cup is one meal. My mains are rice and quinoa and even parboiled rice is lighter when cooked and dehydrated. You also use less fuel when rehydrating / cooking and time. Or if cold soaking it takes less time. This method is lighter than Knore Sides or Uncle Bens Sides.
Dehydrated vegtables are lighter than candy. Sugar is very heavy don't bring it. Don't bring drink mixes or water additives. Make your own bars without corn syrup or added sugar (clif bars are 26g of sugar). Use dates and flax as a binder. Or just being nuts and dates instead
I was bending over to fill my bottle when my shorts ripped. Hiked out wearing my microfiber towel. I'm not gonna say wearing a small towel is better than shorts, but the airflow is superb, and maybe trying it out isn't the worst idea...
You made a DIY kilt - just google a bit, there are also real kilts available especially for sports and hiking, which might be more 'official' and useful for your future adventures?
